DEI Bulletin: May 2023
May 1, 2023 - Sadie Nguyen
Executive Updates
MSUToday: César Chávez and Dolores Huerta event inspires change
On March 31, MSU celebrated the 13th annual César Chávez and Dolores Huerta Commemorative Celebration with over 300 students, employees and families in attendance. Each year, in conjunction with Farmworker Awareness Week and César Chávez Day, this event honors the legacy and stories of national and community leaders who recognize the history and challenges farmworkers and Latinx communities face in the United States. The theme, Recordando y Progresando Raices: Remembering and Progressing our Roots, honored the hard work and dedication of current farmworkers.
The Seventy Four: MSU hosts panel for native boarding school survivors to share their experiences
On April 6, MSU Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer Jabbar R. Bennett, Ph.D., provided remarks at MSU’s Indigenous Law & Policy Center, American Indian and Indigenous Studies and Native American Institute sponsored boarding school healing and justice panel. Carrying The Seventy Four coverage, Yahoo! News reported that during the discussion, “survivors, supporters and listeners, many donning ribbon skirts and orange shirts, filled an MSU auditorium this week in the hopes that by sharing difficult truths, healing can continue.” During the discussion, MSU Associate Professor Wenona T. Singel said, “We have many children that experienced this horrific process have an inability to connect with who they were as Indian people and a loss of their identity as Native people.”
MSUToday: Faculty in social science reflect on IDI Speaker Series event
Emilie Smith and Linda Halgunseth, faculty in the College of Social Science, reflect on the Office for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion's 2nd annual IDI Speaker Series. The event featured University of Pennsylvania Professor Dorothy Roberts who presented research findings on the legacy of racism in medicine. In the MSUToday Q&A, Smith and Halgunseth share thoughts on the event, the impact of Dr. Roberts' scholarship and Michigan State's efforts to advance diversity, equity and inclusion on campus. "We can make change when we all get together and break free from working in silos," said Halgunseth.
Institutional Diversity and Inclusion: Vice President Bennett presents with Dean Steven Hanson at Senior International Officer program
The Big Ten Academic Alliance Senior International Officer's Staff Development Program is a professional development opportunity for selected staff to learn about the internationalization of higher education and best partnership practices. On April 21, Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer Jabbar R. Bennett, Ph.D., joined Vice Provost and Dean Steven Hanson in International Studies and Programs to co-present on the importance of centering global perspectives in diversity, equity and inclusion work in the functioning of a higher education institution.
Institutional Diversity and Inclusion: Vice President Bennett joins panel in the Twin Cities
On April 25, Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer Jabbar R. Bennett, Ph.D., participated in University Advancement’s In Pursuit of Excellence: Expanding Opportunities for All event in Minneapolis. Bennett joined Kelly Millenbah dean of College of Agriculture and Natrual Resources, Kendra Spence Cheruvelil dean of Lyman Briggs College and Ashton Henderson executive associate athletics director for Championship Resources for a panel discussion on MSU’s DEI initiatives moderated by Leo Beno, reporter with Fox 9.
Institutional Diversity and Inclusion: Vice President Bennett provides remarks at the Anti-Discrimination Policy Summit
On April 24, the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX hosted the Anti-Discrimination Policy Summit. The half-day event featured community input sessions on identity definitions and representation, identifying support gaps and navigating processes and alternative resolutions as it relates to MSU’s DEI Report and Plan recommendations. Speakers included Interim President Teresa K. Woodruff, Ph.D., Interim Associate Vice President in the Office for Civil Rights and Title IX Sarah E Harebo, J.D., Senior Vice President for Student Life & Engagement Vennie Gore, Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer Jabbar R. Bennett, Ph.D. and Title IX Coordinator Nicole J. Schmidtke, J.D.
MSUToday: MSU breaks ground on first standalone multicultural center
On April 21, 2023, MSU broke ground on a first-of-its-kind 34,000-square-foot multicultural center. The standalone multicultural center will be located on the northeast intersection of North Shaw and Farm lanes. A live camera feed of the ongoing construction to follow the building’s progress and fly-through video of the planned construction are now available.
Institutional Diversity and Inclusion: MSU Dialogues celebrates growth
On April 24, MSU Dialogues participants, facilitators, and MSU community members gathered to celebrate a year’s worth of community, important conversations and growth. Honored guest speakers included Jaimie Hutchison director of the WorkLife Office and Dr. Ulana Klymyshyn, former director of the multicultural programming center at Central Michigan University. Both speakers addressed the need for community care in addition to self-care as MSU navigates the challenges creating more equitable and inclusive living and learning spaces.
DEI Happenings
Harvard Business Review: Assistant professor co-writes op-ed on how the “Glass Wall” holds female freelancers back
More women turn to freelance working structures as systemic barriers limit female employees’ ability to rise ranks in corporate environments. Assistant Professor in the Eli Broad College of Business Christy Zhou Koval co-writes Harvard Business Review op-ed discussing the limitations of the Glass Ceiling for female freelancers. The op-ed explores whether freelance work improves career outcomes for women.
The Jewish Press: MSU professor explores the audiences for Broadway’s spate of top billing Jewish shows
Assistant Professor in the Department of Religious Studies Laura Yares writes an op-ed for The Jewish Press and explores the audiences that have lined up to see show after show of Jewish stories on Broadway. Shows include performances of “Parade,” “The Wanderers” and “Leopoldstadt.” Yares stated, “We are interested in turning the spotlight away from the stage and onto the seats: What do audiences make of all this? What do they learn?”
MSUToday: MSU’s commitment to supporting survivors is leading higher education
Women aged 18 to 24 are four times more likely to experience sexual violence than women of any age. To measure the prevalence of relationship violence and sexual misconduct, or RVSM, among students, faculty and staff, MSU launched its first Know More Campus Survey in 2019. This was the first survey to measure RVSM across the full population of a higher education institution. Along with many more initiatives, this makes MSU a growing leader among U.S. colleges for its programs that support survivors of sexual assault and relationship violence.
MSUToday: Q&A with rehabilitation services expert on Autism Acceptance Month and acceptance in the workplace
Connie Sung, associate professor and co-director of the MSU Center for Services, Training and Research for Independence and Desired Employment, or STRIDE, speaks about individuals with Autism and the importance of community acceptance. Sung shares how employers can better understand and support the transition of people with developmental disabilities into the workplace.
State News: Michiganders rally for acceptance on transgender day of visibility in Lansing
On March 31, LGBTQIA+ advocates and allies gathered together to celebrate transgender people and demand justice for members of the transgender community. Speakers emphasized the importance of protecting trans youth against anti-LGBTQIA+ laws affecting gender-affirming healthcare services. Cassandra Harding, transgender woman and speaker at the event said, “Like everybody else in America, trans youth and trans people have the same rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
MSUToday: MSU librarian remembering and progressing Latinx roots
Chicano and Latino Studies librarian in MSU Libraries Andrea Salazar McMillan shares why it’s important to preserve and share the impact of Latinx activism during National Farmworker Awareness Week. McMillan is co-chair of the planning committee for the Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta Commemorative Celebration. “This celebration will provide a space to have conversations in the community about the issues farmworkers continue to face today and what we can do to help advocate for better conditions,” said McMillan.
College of Arts & Letters: Womxn of Color Initiatives hosts 2023 artist-in-residence
The Womxn of Color Initiatives (WOCI) planned several events for the week of March 27-31 to allow womxn of color, the MSU community and greater Lansing to engage with Colah B. Tawkin as its 2023 Artist-in-Residence. Tawkin is the creator, producer and voice behind the renowned Black in the Garden podcast who has also been written about in several publications including The Guardian, Essence, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times and more.
MSUToday: Q&A with instructor Mariko Kawaguchi on envisioning the positivity of butterfly art
Instructor of Japanese language in the Department of Linguistics, Languages and Cultures Mariko Kawaguchi partnered to create the butterfly garden art installation after seeing AgeAlive’s exhibition. Kawaguchi discusses the inspiration, importance and meaning of the butterfly garden exhibit “Together We Heal, Grow and Soar,” in MSU’s International Center. The installation became a rallying point for campus healing following the mass shooting in February.
MSUToday: Assistant professor publishes book on curbing anti-Asian racism through poetry
Associate Professor of poetry and writing Divya Victor explores the story of South Asian immigrants and those belonging to the South Asian diaspora and how they navigate public spaces in the United States in her latest book, “Curb.” Released on April 27, the book comes at a time when hate crimes against Asian Americans have risen 150%. “In some ways, this is a book about the fear that immigrants live with deep in their hearts, and the ways in which they confront that fear and keep themselves together as they navigate these public spaces,” said Victor.
MSUToday: Faculty Parisa Ghaderi shares Iranian practices during Nowruz
Assistant Professor Parisa Ghaderi in the Department of Art, Art History and Design, shares experiences celebrating Nowruz, the two-day Iranian New Year in the United States. In recognition of Nowruz on March 20 and 21, Ghaderi said, “Most of the Iranian community has no family nearby to gather to celebrate; and Nowruz is not as widely recognized as holidays such as Christmas, Chinese and Lunar New Year or Holi.”
Innovation, Art, Health and Research
MSUToday: Early childhood reinforcement may contribute to women’s underrepresentation in STEM
According to a new study from Michigan State University, one source of underrerpesentation of women in the science, technology, engineering and math fields may arise during early childhood. According to Amanda Chuan, assistant professor in the School of Human Resources and Labor Relations within the College of Social Science and one of the co-authors of the study, an early emphasis and fostering of interest in reading skills over math among girls may attribute to less women pursuing science-related subjects in elementary and middle school. Additionally, parental involvement and teaching was found to be a better predictor of children’s test scores and interest in reading and math.
MSU Law: MSU College of Law awarded $300,000 AccessLex Diversity Pipeline Intervention Grant
MSU College of Law announces successful application for a $300,000 AccessLex Diversity Pipeline Intervention Grant. The grant will be used to establish a pathway to legal education in Michigan called the MSU Law Pathway Scholars Program. The program aims to reverse the decline of graduates from Michigan’s law schools and increase minority lawyers in the field. The program is a 24-month effort to prepare pre-law students to successfully enroll in law school.
College of Arts & Letters: Department of Religious Studies fills inaugural 1855 Professorships
Created by the Office of the Provost, the 1855 Professorships aim to advance MSU’s strategic diversity, equity and inclusion priorities by transforming impacts on minority and marginalized groups on and off campus. Seventy-six proposals were submitted from across the university. The Department of Religious Studies’ winning proposal marks an expansion of its curriculum to include a focus on Anishinaabe communities and Great Lakes Native American cultures and the hiring of two new faculty.
MSUToday: State education model helped low-performing schools weather pandemic
In 2017, MSU launched Michigan’s Partnership Model of School and District Turnaround to support the state’s low-performing schools and districts. New research from MSU’s Education Policy Innovation Collaborative, or EPIC, found that the Partnership Model appeared to be improving student achievement even prior to the pandemic. The recent report compares student achievement in partnership schools pre-pandemic turnaround years to pandemic-affected turnaround years.
MSUToday: Recommendations for reducing healthcare barriers for transgender patients
Trasngender and gender diverse people face unique barriers in accessing mental and physical healthcare. MSU Professor and member of the Consortium for Sexual and Gender Minority Health Jae Puckett and members of the Trans-ilience Lab share six main recommendations for healthcare providers on barriers to accessing health care. “The medical and mental health fields have a long history of marginalizing trans and gender diverse people and disempowering communities,” said Puckett. “Counter to this history, these suggestions center the voices of trans and gender diverse people in saying what matters and is important in improving their healthcare experiences.”
Recognition
MSUToday: MSU celebrates successful Latino/a farmer program
On April 2, Michigan State University held its first La Cosecha “The Harvest” Celebration, an event welcoming over 150 Latino/a farmers, as well as MSU students, faculty and community members for a luncheon at Spartan Stadium. The celebration honored the USDA funded La Cosecha program for offering the tools and training needed for Latino/a farmers to be successful farm owners in Michigan. “Michigan State is strongly committed to Latino and Latina farmers, as well as migrant families,” said Director for Migrant Student Services and La Cosecha Co-Project Director Luis Alonzo Garcia according to MSUToday.
MSUToday: Teresa Mastin recommended as interim dean of the College of Communications Arts and Sciences
Teresa Mastin, chairperson of the Department of Advertising and Public Relations in the College of Arts and Sciences will be recommended to serve as interim dean of the College of Communication Arts and Sciences beginning on May 16. The recommendation will be submitted for the MSU Board of Trustees’ consideration at its June meeting. She will follow Dean Prabu David, who has chosen to step down from the role to serve as the vice provost for Faculty and Academic Staff Development and interim associate provost for Teaching and Learning Innovation.
MSUToday: MSU College Advising Corps provides underrepresented and low-income high schoolers with tools to pursue college
The MSU College Advising Corps, or MSUCAC, was established to address the widening gap in college access for low-income, first-generation and underrepresented students in Michigan. The program seeks to positively impact enrollment and graduation rates by partnering advisors in more than 30 high schools across Michigan. “With MSUCAC, our advisors are equipped with the tools necessary to support the empowerment of our most vulnerable students to make confident, well-informed decisions about their postsecondary education,” said program director Laura Wise.
WKAR: MSU welcomes director of MSU’s Gender and Sexuality Campus Center
MSU alumna and new director of MSU’s Gender and Sexuality Campus Center, Grace Wojcik has been advocating for the LGBTQ+ community since highschool. Wojcik discusses her journey back to MSU and the importance of celebrating, affirming and supporting queer and trans individuals.
Student Life & Engagement: Director of Women*s Student Services installed as president of ACPA
As of March 2023, Dr. Heather D. Shea is the 83rd president of American College Personnel Association (ACPA): College Student Educators International and first ACPA President from MSU. “ACPA has been my professional home for over two decades as a student affairs educator,” said Shea. “ACPA’s core values and longstanding commitment to racial justice and decolonization align with my own deeply held personal and professional values.”
MSUToday: Professor of Arabic honored for Excellence in Teaching with Technology
Assistant Professor of Arabic Ayman Mohamed in the Department of Linguistics, Languages, and Cultures is being honored with a 2023 AT&T Excellence in Teaching with Technology Award for the integration of technology in his Elementary Arabic courses. “The redesign of these courses was not meant to be temporary or limited in scope,” Mohamed said. “It was meant to be adaptable, sustainable and inclusive, and to advance the teaching and learning of less commonly taught languages, and to advocate for inclusive pedagogy under the slogan of reach and teach all.”
MSUToday: Estrella Torrez receives award for empowering local Indigenous and Latinx youth
Associate Professor in the Residential College in the Arts and Humanities Estrella Torrez was recognized for her work with the Lansing School District and received MSU Outreach Engagement’s 2023 Distinguished Partnership Award for Community-Engaged Creative Activity. “Over the past 15 years, I’ve built relationships with [students] and their families through these programs that bring together community-members from on and off campus,” said Torrez. “Each of these programs encourage young folx to see themselves eventually attending MSU and being able to thrive as Spartans.”
Barron’s: Faculty Lisa Cook recognized in 100 most influential women in U.S. finance
For the second year in a row, James Madison College Professor Lisa Cook is featured on Barron's list as the first Black woman and first woman of color to sit on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors.
College of Osteopathic Medicine: Professor Farha Abbasi earns national recognition for work on minority mental health
Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry, Farha Abbasi has been named one of the top 15 women in the nation to be honored at the Women on the Frontlines: Celebrating Women Faith Leaders celebration in Washington, D.C. The invitation recognizes Abbasi’s transformative work on minority mental health and “extraordinary leadership on behalf of humanity.”
BROAD College of Business: MSU alumna is a driving force for DEI in auto industry
As a woman in engineering, MSU alum Cheryl Thompson has experienced firsthand a culture that lacked diversity and inclusion. Personal experiences and an understanding of the hardships of other marginalized auto industry professionals led Thompson to found the Center for Automotive Diversity, Inclusion and Advancement. The center has evolved to fill a gap for diverse talent of all kinds in the automotive industry.
College of Arts & Letters: Graduate Calandra Berry helping to create the next generation of vehicles
Experience Architecture (XA) graduate Calandra Berry is part of a core team of experienced designers and engineers to create the fully electric Lincoln Star Concept Car. Berry reflects on her MSU education and how it has prepared her for this project. “As an experience designer, having different experiences yourself can help you shape things for others,” Berry said. “Being well-rounded is the ideal, and the XA program was great for that because it’s interdisciplinary.”
Students/Alums
MSUToday: Jacob Pepper reflects on being out and gay at MSU
Jacob Pepper, James Madison College graduating student, reflects on his experiences being openly gay at Michigan State University. Pepper sought to attend MSU to broaden his worldview while being able to explore his identity. Through numerous academic and professional experiences, Pepper was able to travel abroad and learn about LGTBQIA+ history in Australia, as well as connect with Michigan LGBTQIA+ allies and leaders. “I hope to take the lessons learned and the experiences I have gained at Michigan State into my life post-graduation and into my career,” Pepper said in MSUToday.
MSUToday: Jai Kozar-Lewis named ‘Newman Civic Fellow’ for community-focused efforts
Supply chain management first-year student Jai Kozar-Lewis was named a 2023-24 Newman Civic Fellow by Campus Compact. The fellowship recognizes and supports community-committed students proactively working to make positive changes to social, political and environmental issues. Director of MSU’s Center for Community Engaged Learning said, “Jai continuously demonstrates his commitment to addressing issues of food insecurity and health disparities through his long standing service and leadership.”
MSUToday: Orezime Uyeh inspires the next generation of doctors, one book at a time
Third-year student in the College of Human Medicine, Orezime Uyeh shares her story as a young Nigerian girl struggling to see herself as a physician. This experience inspired Uyeh to write and illustrate, “Girls for Medicine,” a picture book about Black and Brown girls interested in careers in the medical field. “I gave them the tools to feel confident in pursuing a degree in medicine,” said Uyeh. “It made me think about how I wish I’d had a book like that.”
MSUToday: Julian Rafael shares his journey from migrant farmworker to Food Industry Management major
Sophomore Julian Rafael grew up in a migrant family in Phar, Texas. During highschool, Rafael met a recruiter from MSU’s College Assistance Migrant Program, or CAMP, a residential program that assists migrant and seasonal farm worker students with academic, social and financial support. As a current MSU student, Rafael reflects on the impact of CAMP on his educational experience and how his current major will help him impact other individuals who come from migrant family backgrounds.
MSUToday: Desi-American student Aditi Kulkarni resolves identity crisis by finding community
Third-year student in the James Madison College, Aditi Kulkarni speaks on the tensions of growing up in America and being raised by Desi parents. “I never wanted to be Indian and yet I never felt American enough,” said Kulkarni. “My entire sense of identity was a gray space; how could I honor a heritage I didn’t even care for while attempting to fit in with my American peers?” After traveling to India with James Madison College’s Diversity Leadership Program, she reflects on eye opening experiences that helped resolve her identity.
MSUToday: Ethan Bierdman reflects on spring break in India with the Madison Diversity Leadership Program
International Relations and Comparative Cultures and Politics junior, Ethan Biederman traveled to India for two weeks with James Madison College’s Diversity Leadership Program. Biederman shares his experiences witnessing participatory action and how to empower others to take charge of their own development.
Upcoming
MSUToday: Juneteenth Celebration is set for June 16 at the Breslin Center
The Juneteenth Planning Committee is planning for the 3rd annual Michigan State University Juneteenth Celebration. This year’s theme is “158 Years Later: Celebrating Progress.” The celebration will take place on Friday, June 16, 2023, from 5:00 to 8:30 p.m. at the Breslin Center. The program will feature an array of vendors, entertainment, dancing, exhibits, music, food and prizes.